Happy Sunday everyone and especially to my fellow bloggers because today it’s all about you once again. After the last three contributions to my new blogger tips post series which were about how to even start a blog,the (no-)reasons to start a blog as well as how to collaborate with brands I received quite a few comments and emails among other things with the question, how it actually comes to collaborations with brands. Let me explain.

How I received my first collaboration requests? Well, The Fashion Fraction as it is now exists since two years and even before I had a blog for four years where I infrequently posted outfits when I felt like it. Briefly speaking I’d say I’m one of the first bloggers here in Switzerland and well, there were not many others back then so you can imagine the first requests arrived very quickly – especially when I started The Fashion Fraction in 2014 and decided to do it right this time: with a concept, with a self-designed website and with a professional photographer by my side. But oh sorry, you wanted to know how it works nowadays. Here you go.

1. Content and good quality
Before you even think about working with brands, your blog must already be filled with content so that you already have a little audience and that a brand or agency is able to see what your main topic is about. If you think “well, easy, so I will just publish ten outfits the next days” you’re taking it too easy. It’s not about quantity, it’s rather about quality. Are you able to spellbind your readers with your texts and can’t they take their eyes away from your pictures? You reached your goal if so! But why do I mention this point related to blogger cooperations? It’s simple: The content of a blog and its quality is the first thing a brand sees and is the reason why it decides to contact you or not. Statistics are not public so they will only ask for it when they contact you. Therefor creating interesting content in a very high quality is basically the foundation stone for collaborations!

2. Make the first move
It’s a fact that worldwide (and probably also in the country you live) there’s a handful of established bloggers, which already collaborate with brands since a while. For this reason brands and agencies don’t really look for new faces as they used to. So it might be a good idea to make the first move and write an email to tell them that you exist. ;) You don’t need to write a book, keep it short instead! Introduce yourself, tell them why you like the brand and state your interest in working together casually. Say goodbye with regards and the supplement that you’re looking forward to maybe meet personally at an event soon. Who knows, maybe they’ll invite you soon ;)

3. Don’t be arrogant
To take up the previous point again, never be demanding if you contact an agency or brand for the first time – don’t forget you’re the one who actually wants something. Too much self-confidence can easily be seen as pride and won’t be well received. You must know that agencies often receive dozens of requests from bloggers who want to receive this or that piece of clothing and believe me if your first contact is like “I’m a blogger. Send me that!” you will probably end up on the black list. So rather stay with the suggested kind introduction above.

4. Don’t hustle
PR departments often have a lot of work to do so it’s likely that your email won’t be answered within 24h. Be patient and don’t hustle with another email the next day. If you haven’t heard back after a week, it’s fine to send another email just to ask if they received the email you sent at the 00. month 0000.

5. Show yourselfWhen you receive your first invitations to events, you absolutely need go there! First of all because you need to show the brand/agency that you’re taking this serious (mostly there’s guestlist so they see who of the invited guests came and who didn’t!) and second to build up a network and show your face. If you’re new in this blogger game and want to have a friend by your side as a support, you should ask beforehand if it’s ok to come accompanied. You can introduce your friend as your photographer – by the way, it’s indeed practical to have someone with you who can shoot your Instagrampictures ;)

6. Get into conversations
Try to talk to people when you attend an event – it doesn’t even matter with whom you talk. It can be the agency, the brand responsible, press people or other bloggers. Building up a network is clever and makes a lot of things easier. Also, with blogger friends it’s much nicer to go to events, a brand will keep you in mind and the agency knows you personally now and probably connects you with some of their other clients. Don’t forget to say goodbye and give thanks when you leave.

7. Support each other
When you found blogger friends you should support each other! Your friend can take you with her to the events she’s invited to and vice versa. You both will make new contacts and grow with each other so it’s a win-win-situation and as said, it’s nice to have someone by your side as this business is very superficial and tough. I anyway don’t really understand this competition thing within the blogger business – you grow much more together, no? – but well, let’s drop this subject at this point.

8. Tag brands on your Instagram pictures
It doesn’t take you long or a lot of effort, but I actually got cooperation requests thanks to that – even if I didn’t plan that at all. However, with the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that brands always have an eye on what people share about them on social media. So if you show their products in a way which they like, it could happen that they will contact you and request informations about collaboration possibilities, if so head forward to this article.

9. Every beginning is difficult
Don’t expect too much when you start. Because let’s be honest, no one waits for a new blogger to invite to an event or to start a big collaboration with. It takes its time. As soon as your invited to the first events and you’re able to show your face and connect with others, you’ll stay in mind more and more and your mail inbox will fill up. So, don’t be down in the mouth and the most important: Keep creating amazing, high-quality content!

That was it. If you have any inputs or wishes for the next topics, you know where you find the comment box ;)

50 Comments: ADD YOURS

I absolutely love this post, especially for your honesty ! Many bloggers says “oh you know brands write me directly to collaborate” while everybody knows that is not the truth. So thank you for sharing your tips.

For the moment, I just share my pictures on Instagram but I’m really looking for a blog to create. you inspire me, as well (Swiss spirit maybe :D)

Hi Michelle! Maybe you could write something about blog photography? I have planned a blog/webside for a while, but I haven’t found the right photographer yet. Maybe you have some advices about taking outfit shoots for people who don’t have such an amazing Joy as a friend? :) Lots of love for both of you! xx

Very nice and useful tips! It´s quite sad how the bloggers compete with each other in Czech. I learned so much with your explanations and still have to do and learn :) It’s just so hard to take the first step.Meet My Lovely World

Reeeeeally interesting post…and you are super kind to share it with us. You know that my first brand collaboration arrived thank you?! Cause I really liked a t-shirt that u had and I posted a comment <3 <3 <3

I think if you keep blogging and writing good content, eventually brands start contacting you, but I do also agree that putting yourself out there and contacting them directly can’t hurt! As long as it is done in a good day, why not?